Asymmetrical self-gripping device

ABSTRACT

An asymmetrical self-gripping device is disclosed and includes a base member to which is attached upright holding and gripping members which are adapted to be pressed through a sheet-like member in a staple-like fashion; the holding member is adapted to be folded-over after being pressed through the sheet-like member to secure the self-gripping device in place and the gripping member is adapted to remain upright for self-gripping engagement with a receiving layer. Apparatus for pressing the self-gripping device through a sheetlike member and for folding over the holding member is also disclosed.

-United States Patent Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 374,715, June 28, 1973, abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 171,701, Aug. 13, 1971, abandoned.

Brumlik Nov. 25, 1975 [54] ASYMMETRICAL SELF-GRIPPING DEVICE 3,494,006 2/ 1970 Brumlik 24/204 1 W l 24 2 [75] Inventor: George C. Brumlik, Montclair, NJ. 3 555 630 H197 y 06 04 [73] Assignee: Ingrip Fasteners, Inc., New York, FOREIGN PATENTS OR A PLICATIONS 589,380 3/1959 Italy 24/204 [22] Filed: 1974 Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak 2 APPL 5 92 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burgess, Dinklage &

Sprung [57] ABSTRACT An asymmetrical self-gripping device is disclosed and includes a base member to which is attached upright holding and gripping members which are adapted to be pressed through a sheet-like member in a staplelike fashion; the holding member is adapted to be told ed-over after being pressed through the sheet-like member to secure the self-gripping device in place and the gripping member is adapted to remain upright for self-gripping engagement with a receiving layer.

Apparatus for pressing the self-gripping device through a sheet-like member and for folding over the holding member is also disclosed.

6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures us. Patent Nov.25,1975 3,921,258

ASYMMETRICAL SELF-GPPING DEVICE BACKGROUND This is a division of application Ser. No. 374,715, filed June 28, 1973, now abandoned, and is in turn a continuation of application Ser. No. 171,701, filed Aug. 13, 1971, also abandoned.

This invention relates to an asymmetrical self-gripping device which is adapted to be pressed through a sheet-like member wherein a portion of the device includes an upright gripping member.

Conventional fastening and attaching techniques such as nailing, gluing and the like are being replaced by self-gripping fastening devices wherein a plurality of gripping members such as barbed hooks are brought into self-gripping engagement with a receiving layer such as a carpet-like member. These self-gripping techniques have advantages over conventional fastening devices in that the self-gripping attachment can be releasible, that is reversible for repositioning or reattachment, or it can be permanent. Moreover, self-gripping devices eliminate the criticalities involved in alignment and provide an extremely fast and efficient means for attaching or mounting articles. Such self-gripping devices are extremely important where labor costs must be kept to a minimum.

WIth the advent of self-gripping devices for attaching and mounting various articles it becomes important to make these devices readily available to the individual homeowner as well as commercial and industrial users.

The present invention provides a self-gripping device and apparatus whereby virtually any penetratable sheet-like member such as wood, cardboard, plastic and the like can be rendered self-gripping in a very efficient manner.

SUMMARY The present invention provides an asymmetrical selfgripping device which includes a base member to which is attached an upright holding member and an upright gripping member each being adapted to be pressed through a sheet-like member in a staple-like fashion. The holding member is adapted to be folded over after being pressed through the sheet-like member to secure the device in place and the gripping member is adapted to remain upright after being pressed through for selfgripping engagement with a receiving layer.

Apparatus according to the present invention for securing the self-gripping device to a sheet-like member includes driving means and anvil means adapted to receive a sheet-like member therebetween. The driving means include guide means to position a self-gripping device for pressing through a sheet-like member and reciprocatin g hammer means adapted to press the self- "edge of the anvil to facilitate removal of the self-gripping device pressed through and secured to a sheet-like member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGS. 1 and 2 are side elevational views partly in section showing the self-gripping device of the invention pressed through a sheet member (FIG. 1) and secured in place (FIG. 2).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a plurality of the self-gripping devices shown in FIG. 1 arranged in a side-by-side row for dispensing, pressing through and attachment to a sheet utilizing the apparatus of the invention.

FIGS. 4a-d show side elevational views of several embodiments for the gripping member of the self-gripping device of the invention.

FIGS. 5a-c show side elevational views of the several embodiments of the self-gripping device of the invention.

FIGS. 6a and b are vertical sectional views illustrating preferred apparatus of the present invention for securing the self-gripping device to sheetlike member.

FIGS. 6c and d are perspective views, FIG. 6c also being partly in vertical section, of the preferred apparatus of FIGS. 6a and b.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, are perspective views illustrating various ways in which the self-gripping devices of the present invention can be utilized with a sheet-like member.

DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing and, in particular, FIGS. 1 and 2, the self-gripping device of the invention in its simplest form is shown to include a base member 12 to which is attached an upright holding member 14 and an upright gripping member 10. The self-gripping device indicated generally by the reference numeral 20 is shown pressed through sheet-like member 16. In FIG. 2 the holding member 14- is shown folded'over to secure the self-gripping device to the sheet 16.

In FIG. 3, the self-gripping devices 20 are shown arranged in a channel-like side-by-side row much the same as a series of staples. This is a preferred form for assembling the self-gripping devices for application utilizing the apparatus of the invention. The row shown in FIG. 3 is generally loosely adhered to facilitate separation using well known staple techniques such as lacquer or adhesive.

In FIG. 4 several gripping members 10 suitable for use in the present invention are illustrated. The gripping member 10 may terminate in a curved flat hook such as shown in FIG. 1 or the hook may be twisted out of plane as shown in FIG. 4a by reference numeral 40. A hook-shaped gripping member 10 may also be provided with a cutting edge for example as shown on the interior of the curved hook of FIG. 40 by reference numeral 42. This cutting edge is capable of engaging both vertical and horizontal fibers and fabrics in a receiving layer.

The gripping member 10 of FIG. 4a is preferred because its three dimensional configuration has a high probability of fiber and filament engagement.

The gripping member 10 may terminate abruptly as shown in FIGS. 4b and d, numeral 42. In FIG. 4b the gripping member is provided with a series of sharply cut notches 44 along the upright length thereof. In FIG. 4d the gripping member 10 is generally thin and is provided with a series of punched or cut-out scalloped tabs 48 characterized by a generally conchoid shape. In FIG. 4b it is preferred to use a plurality of notches 44.

It should also be noted that filaments or fibers in a receiving layer are gripped by being wedged into the notches 44. The same holds true for the gripping member of FIG. 4d wherein filaments or fibers are gripped by a shearing mechanism. It should also be noted in FIG. 4d that the tabs 48 may be oriented in any direction desired and may be located along the edge of the member rather than in the middle as shown.

In general, the gripping member 10 is characterized by a penetrating profile which may be a hook 40 as shown in FIGS. 4b and c or a blunt member as shown in FIGS. 4b and d. The gripping members 10 may have any cross-section desired, for example, round, square, tubular, rectangular or polygonal is shown in FIG. 4 and the ends 42 may be blunt or cut at an angle or pointed or rounded to facilitate penetration into a receiving layer and to minimize irritation on handling.

Several embodiments of the self-gripping devices are shown in FIG. 5. FIG. a shows the gripping member of FIG. 1 and FIG. 5b shows the gripping member of FIG. 4b having a plurality of sharply cut notches 44. In FIG. 5c, the sharply cut notches 44 are shown along the base 12 and the holding member 14 wherein the notches are all oriented in the same direction as the notches on the upright gripping member 10.

A common feature of the self-gripping devices of the present invention is that they are asymmetrical, that is the gripping leg is different in shape and function from the holding leg 14. Another important common feature is that all of the self-gripping devices of the present invention are capable of being pressed through a sheet-like member such as illustrated in FIG. 1. While the self-gripping devices of the present invention is pressed through the sheet in a staple-like fashion, a unique feature of the invention resides in the fact that only holding leg 14 is folded over to hold and secure device in place, while the gripping member 10 remains upright for self-gripping engagement with a receiving layer as shown in FIG. 2.

It is preferred that the length of the holding leg 14 be such that when it is folded over, it comes quite close to the upright gripping member 10 as shown in FIG. 2. However, it should be understood that the holding leg 14 may be shorter depending on the material of construction for the self-gripping device and its application or use.

In FIG. 6, the apparatus of the invention for securing a self-gripping device 20 to a sheet-like member 16 is illustrated. The apparatus includes driving means which comprises guide means 60 to position a self-gripping device 20 for pressing through sheet member 16 and reciprocating hammer means 62 for pressing the self-gripping device 20 through sheet member 16 one at a time, for example from the row of devices shown in FIG. 3 somewhat like a stapling machine. Positioned below the driving means is an anvil 64 which is adapted to receive sheet member 16 therebetween. The anvil 64 has a cammed groove 66 which is adapted to receive and fold over holding member 14 as shown in particular by FIG. 6b. Anvil 64 also includes an orifice 68 which permits the gripping member 10 of the self-gripping device to pass therethrough and remain upright, also as shown in FIG. 6b. In a preferred embodiment, the orifice 68 is a slot which is generally perpendicular to cammed groove 66 and extends to the edge of the anvil 64 as shown in FIG. 6c. Slot 68 makes it possible to readily remove a self-gripping device 20 attached to a sheet 16, after being pressed therethrough and at- 4 tached as shown in FIG. 6b. In FIG. 6d, sheet 16 has been deleted for clarity and there is shown gripping member 20 with holding member 14 folded over slightly elevated and being withdrawn from the slot 68 in anvil 64.

It should be noted that the anvil 64 shown in FIG. 6 differs from conventional staple anvils which have two cammed grooves for completely folding over both legs of staple. Conventional stapling devices are well known in the art, as for example in US. Pat. Nos. 2,205,709 and 2,312,142. The anvil 64 of the present invention having a preferred slot 68 differs in concept and function from conventional anvils in that it permits the upright gripping member 10 to remain upright during the stapling operation and further permits removal of the sheet member 16 with the self-gripping device 20 secured thereto with the gripping member 10 upright for self-gripping engagement.

In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 there are illustrated several embodiments for utilizing the self-gripping device of the invention.

In FIG. 7, the self-gripping device of FIG. 50 is shown secured about the periphery of sheet member 70. In FIG. 8, the same self-gripping devices 20 are shown secured to a strip member 50 and in FIG. 9 the same selfgripping devices 20 are shown secured to both sides of a patch-like member 90.

The self-gripping devices of the present invention are preferably made of metal such as metal wire, ribbon, strip or sheet and coated metal wire. The self-gripping devices can also be formed from hard plastic materials such as thermoplastic and therrnosetting compositions. For example, the preferred metal wire can be formed from steel, aluminum, copper and copper alloys such as bronze and beryllium copper.

In general, metal wire having any desired cross sectional shape is cut and bent using conventional forming tools to form the self-gripping device of the invention. Other conventional techniques including stamping and etching may also be employed to form the self-gripping device of the invention.

The relative size and dimensions of the component parts of the self-gripping device 20 will depend in large measure on the material from which it is made and the manner in which it is used.

The sheet member 16 may be made of one or more layers of any material which is capable of being penetrated by the self-gripping device of the present invention without shattering and includes solid sheets made from material such as wood, fiberboard, paper, cardboard, plastic, metal foils, sheets and wall cladding materials such as tiles, panels and the like, porous sheet materials such as plastic or metal mesh, woven and non-woven materials, such as flet, fabric and carpets, sponge and the like. Receiving layers with which the self-gripping device of the invention comes into selfgripping engagement can be made of any material which is sufiiciently soft or porous to permit the gripping member of the self-gripping device to penetrate and lodge therein. The thickness of the receiving layer depends on the nature and size of the gripping member and generally falls within the range of 0.002 to 1.50 inches. Suitable receiving layers include woven, nonwoven, and knitted fabrics, fibrous clusters, carpet-like materials, fiberboards, molded and foamed plastics, wood, metal and plastic mesh and expanded and perforated sheet materials such as those fabricated from metals and plastics.

The self-gripping devices of the present invention finds wide application for rendering virtually any penetratable sheet member self-gripping. The invention also provides for delicate and economic control over the mounting pattern and orientation of the self-gripping device.

The self-gripping device of the invention can be readily utilized by individual and industrial users to render selected areas of surfaces or entire surfaces selfgripping of articles such as wall cladding materials, panels, tile, sheets, decorative trim and the like.

It should be noted that the apparatus of this invention may be used to secure a plurality of self-gripping devices in place. The apparatus may be used in tandem or series to simultaneously or sequentially secure selfgripping devices to all or part of particular articles such as component and intermediate parts such as exterior and interior assembly panels and parts, wall components such as panels, trim and the like.

It should also be noted further that the self-gripping devices of this invention such as shown in FIG. 1 can be made from a continuous spool of wire or ribbon using known cutting and bending techniques.

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising a asymetrical self-gripping one piece device and a sheet member, said device comprising a substantially straight base member positioned substantially entirely on one face of said sheet and in contact therewith, holding member extending from an end of said base member penetrating through said sheet member and bent over and extending toward the other end of said base member and engaging the other face of said shut member thereby clamping said shut member against said base member, an upright straight gripping member, extending from said other end of said base member, penetrating through said sheet member to the other side of said sheet member, said gripping member being substantially perpendicular to said sheet member, said gripping member including a series of barb-line elements deformed out of said gripping member along its length and said gripping member being adapted to remain upright for self-gripping engagement with a receiving layer.

2. Self-gripping device of claim 1 wherein said gripping member terminates abruptly and includes notches along the upright length thereof.

3. Self-gripping device of claim 2 wherein the receiving layer comprises fibers and said element include a plurality of sharply cut notches adapted to engage said fibers in a wedging action.

4. Self-gripping device of claim 3 wherein the base and holding member also includes said sharply cut notches oriented in the same direction as the notches of the gripping member.

5. Self-gripping device of claim 1 wherein said elements are scalloped tabs.

6. Self-gripping device of claim 5 wherein the receiving layer comprises fibers and said elements are a plurality of said scalloped tabs adapted to engage said fibers in a shearing action. 

1. An assembly comprising a asymetrical self-gripping one piece device and a sheet member, said device comprising a substantially straight base member positioned substantially entirely on one face of said sheet and in contact therewith, holding member extending from an end of said base member penetrating through said sheet member and bent over and extending toward the other end of said base member and engaging the other face of said shut member thereby clamping said shut member against said base member, an upright straight gripping member, extending from said other end of said base member, penetrating through said sheet member to the other side of said sheet member, said gripping member being substantially perpendicular to said sheet member, said gripping member including a series of barb-line elements deformed out of said gripping member along its length and said gripping member being adapted to remain upright for self-gripping engagement with a receiving layer.
 2. Self-gripping device of claim 1 wherein said gripping member terminates abruptly and includes notches along the upright length thereof.
 3. Self-gripping device of claim 2 wherein the receiving layer comprises fibers and said element include a plurality of sharply cut notches adapted to engage said fibers in a wedging action.
 4. Self-gripping device of claim 3 wherein the base and holding member also includes said sharply cut notches oriented in the same direction as the notches of the gripping member.
 5. Self-gripping device of claim 1 wherein said elements are scalloped tabs.
 6. Self-gripping device of claim 5 wherein the receiving layer comprises fibers and said elements are a plurality of said scalloped tabs adapted to engage said fibers in a shearing action. 